Via Mzansi project brings together final-year students from the Academy of Sound Engineering (ASE), many of whom are already releasing music independently. The lead single, ‘Spina’, takes its name from the spinning of a roulette wheel and examines gambling addiction, particularly amid the growth of online betting in South Africa. The project also includes ‘What’s Wrong With The World?’, which addresses gender-based violence, and ‘Happy Boy’, a track focused on drug addiction.
The artists were placed at Jazzworx, a Dolby Atmos-accredited production studio in Bryanston, Johannesburg, through a national employment initiative funded by the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) via its Social Employment Fund. The placement provided practical experience in a professional studio environment, including training in spatial audio and Dolby Atmos delivery, skills that remain relatively uncommon among entry-level music professionals in South Africa.
The programme combines paid employment with creative production, giving participants the opportunity to apply their training while producing music that addresses social issues affecting South African communities. Standout contributors to the project are expected to be announced individually ahead of the release.
